What is the Origin of Telomere Maintenance Therapy?

This concept is a direct application of Nobel Prize-winning research on telomeres and the telomerase enzyme, which established telomere shortening as a key determinant of cellular lifespan and organismal aging. The term "maintenance therapy" reflects the clinical goal of sustaining telomere length to delay the onset of replicative senescence in vital tissues.

What is the Mechanism of Telomere Maintenance Therapy?

Maintenance therapy often involves the use of telomerase-activating compounds, which work by increasing the expression or activity of the enzyme responsible for adding repetitive DNA sequences to the telomere ends. Additionally, interventions focus on reducing systemic inflammation and oxidative stress, which are major drivers of telomere erosion. The ultimate goal is to prolong the functional lifespan of somatic cells, thereby preserving tissue and organ reserve.

Telomere Maintenance Therapy ∞ Area

Telomere Maintenance Therapy

Meaning

A specialized therapeutic strategy focused on preserving or extending the length of telomeres, the protective caps on the ends of chromosomes, to mitigate cellular senescence and age-related functional decline. This therapy aims to support the activity of the telomerase enzyme or reduce the rate of telomere attrition caused by oxidative stress and inflammation. It is a direct intervention targeting a primary molecular mechanism of aging.